What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary choline chloride on the growth, antioxidant properties, and intestinal function of juvenile bighead carp.

February 22, 2026Open Access

Effects of Dietary Choline Chloride on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Properties, and Intestinal Function of Juvenile Bighead Carp ( Aristichthys nobilis )

Key Points

The study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary choline chloride on the growth, antioxidant properties, and intestinal function of juvenile bighead carp.
Juvenile bighead carp with an average weight of 1.77 ± 0.20 g were fed diets with varying choline chloride concentrations.
Dietary choline chloride levels tested included 0 g/kg (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g/kg over a period of 66 days.
Growth performance metrics like weight gain rate and specific growth rate were measured.
Serum triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities were also assessed.
Intestinal digestibility and microbiota composition were examined.
Choline chloride supplementation at 6 g/kg significantly improved weight gain rate and specific growth rate.
Supplementation of 4–10 g/kg reduced serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
Malondialdehyde levels decreased with 6 to 10 g/kg choline chloride compared to control.
Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher at 6 g/kg supplementation.
Optimal choline chloride levels for growth were identified as approximately 6.51 to 6.62 g/kg.

Abstract

Choline, an essential nutrient for aquatic animals, plays an important role in fish growth performance and health, but its effect on bighead carp is not yet known. To investigate the effects of choline chloride on growth performance, antioxidant properties, and intestinal function of juvenile bighead carp ( Aristichthys nobilis ), fish with an average weight of 1.77 ± 0.20 g were fed with different dietary choline chloride supplementation concentrations: 0 g/kg (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g/kg for 66 days. The results indicated that dietary choline chloride supplementation at 6 g/kg improved the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) ( p < 0.05). Dietary choline chloride supplementation (4–10 g/kg) decreased serum in serum triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (T‐CHO), and glucose (GLU) levels of juvenile bighead carp ( p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly lower than the control group when choline chloride supplementation ranged from 6 to 10 g/kg. When choline chloride supplementation was at 6 g/kg, the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly higher than the control group ( p < 0.05). The levels of choline chloride supplementation (6–10 g/kg) increased the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes and enhanced the intestinal digestibility of juvenile bighead carp ( p < 0.05). In addition, choline chloride levels did not affect the abundance of intestinal microbiota, and the composition of the dominant phylum genera was similar, including Ascomycetes, Actinobacteria, and thick‐walled bacteria. At the genus level, there are Gemmobacter, ZOR0006, Peredibacter, and Mycobacterium, respectively. Overall, choline chloride supplementation (4–10 g/kg) could significantly improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and digestive enzyme activity of juvenile bighead carp. Furthermore, broken‐line regression analysis has identified 6.51 and 6.62 g/kg as the optimal levels of dietary choline chloride for juvenile bighead carp based on growth performance. Overall, appropriate dietary choline chloride could improve growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal function in bighead carp.

Effects of Dietary Choline Chloride on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Properties, and Intestinal Function of Juvenile Bighead Carp ( Aristichthys nobilis )

Key Points

Abstract

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